CU sack specialist Hartigan believes his best is yet to come

BOULDER – In interviewing Colorado’s Josh Hartigan for the feature that ran in this morning’s print edition of the Denver Post, the junior defensive end told me that he believes his two-sack performance against Georgia is just a sign of better things to come.

“I wouldn’t say that was my ‘defining’ game, I would say that’s my starting point,” Hartigan said. “I definitely want to get more. That’s my starting point. I want to continue to get better. I want to help the team out.”

Hartigan has developed into CU’s speed rusher off the edge. When CU lines up in a three-man front (which has become the majority of the time), it’s often Hartigan alongside defensive tackles Curtis Cunningham and Will Pericak. Sometimes, sophomore defensive end Nick Kasa moves inside and replaces one of the regular tackles when a pass rush is the focus.

“Getting off the ball (quickly) really helps me,” Hartigan said of technique for getting sacks. “Knocking the lineman’s hands down so they can’t touch you and getting them in open space, that’s what I try to do. Then you have to keep your eye on the quarterback because a lot of quarterbacks can scramble a little bit.”